1. Reform Attempts Prior to the Reformation

2. Attempts at Reform John Wycliffe (1320-1384) Clerical Poverty
Personal Merit
Scripture Alone
Condemned Posthumously
Lollards

3. Attempts at Reform Jan Hus (1369-1415) Bohemian Reformer
Ideas similar to Wycliffe
Religious Reform linked to Bohemian nationalism
Burned at the Stake
Council of Constance (1414)

4. Church Response Conciliar Movement No lasting reform
Church councils called to reunify and clean up the Church
Examples: Council of Pisa (1409); Council of Constance (1414)
No lasting reform
Popes resisted change – why?
Reform will move outside Church Structure

5. Mysticism Personal Relationship with Christ Active in the World
Devotion outside of church structure
Active in the World
Life of Service to the Community - No formal vows
Thomas a Kempis - “Imitation of Christ”
Brethren of the Common Life
Oratories of the Divine (Italy) - Priests serving in active ministry
Cardinal Jimenez (Spain)
Remove abuses/Renewed spiritual vigor/High standards for the clergy

6. Millenarianism “Last Days of the World”
Society in which religion ensures justice for poor and oppressed
Justified attacking established institutions and church corruption
Anti-christ = Corruption of the Church

7. Christian Humanism Desire to bring Church back to its original state
Use Humanistic Scholarship
Study and Interpret Scripture in the original language
Retain church doctrine/teachings - Reform abuses
“Prince of Christian Humanists” - Erasmus

8. Eve of Reformation 2 Areas of Church Criticism
Church Problems
Role of Church in Society

9. Church Abuses Church Perception: Babylonian Captivity (1305-1376)
French king forced popes to settle in Avignon, France
Luxurious lifestyle
Great Schism ( )
2 Popes: Rome and Avignon - Church leadership questioned

10. Church Abuses Nepotism - Giving friend/family position
Pluralism - more than one office
Simony - sale of church position
Clerical Immorality/Illiteracy

11. Role of the Church Role of the Church in Society
Reaction to wealth/power of Church
Main emphasis of criticism
Rise of national churches - control by monarchy